Underground gasification of coal

Patent · Tue Jan 20 04:00:00 EST 1976

OSTI ID:862451

Komar, Charles A ^[1]

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1. Uniontown, PA

There is disclosed a method for the gasification of coal in situ which comprises drilling at least one well or borehole from the earth's surface so that the well or borehole enters the coalbed or seam horizontally and intersects the coalbed in a direction normal to its major natural fracture system, initiating burning of the coal with the introduction of a combustion-supporting gas such as air to convert the coal in situ to a heating gas of relatively high calorific value and recovering the gas. In a further embodiment the recovered gas may be used to drive one or more generators for the production of electricity.

• Research Organization: National Energy Technology Laboratory, Pittsburgh, PA, and Morgantown, WV
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by United States Energy (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 3933447
• OSTI ID: 862451
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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/166/40/48/60/299/
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